Photography: Sitka, Alaska

Sitka Eight Wildlife & Coastal Photo Study | Personal Series, 2025 Project Story Across one slate-gray weekend in Sitka, Alaska, I hunted for the split-second drama that happens where rainforest meets sea. The final edit is a tight eight-shot cycle: two sea-lions tearing into salmon mid-surface, two sockeye rockets cresting the waterline, two minimalist shoreline frames where fog erases the horizon, one steel-truss bridge dissolving into cloud, and one lone seiner carving through kelp-slick water. Together, the set reads like a visual haiku about Southeast Alaska’s restless coastline. My Contribution Location Spotting – Logged sea-lion haul-outs off Kasiana Island, timed salmon runs at Indian River, and marked high-tide vantage points for stripped-down coastal scenics. Field Technique – Shot everything on a Canon Rebel T5i: 55-250 mm for wildlife bursts, 18-55 mm for landscapes and structures. Worked at 1/2000 s to freeze action, leaned on image stabilization, and rode ISO to handle shifting storm light. Environmental Adaptation – Shielded the DSLR with quick-rig plastic rain sleeves, used a circular polarizer to cut glare off the chop, and bracketed exposures to preserve slate-blue highlights. Post-Production – Color-graded RAWs to hold Alaska’s cool palette, balanced blown sea spray against basalt shadow, and retouched salt-mist spots in Lightroom/Photoshop. Curation – Sequenced the eight images from kinetic wildlife to contemplative scenery, giving the viewer a pulse-to-calm narrative arc. Result An eight-piece digital gallery that demonstrates high-speed capture on consumer-grade gear, mastery of moody coastal lighting, and disciplined visual storytelling—adding a rugged natural counterweight to the design-centric projects in my portfolio.